Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-17
Scenes on and About the Gallows.

Scenes on and About the GalIoWs.
CHICAGO, Nov. l1.-At lilo the jury
fell in and took their places in the double
row of chairs which had been reserved il
front of the press tables. The spectators,
of whom there were less than 200, were
admitted to the rear. Altogether, the
corridor was not half filed. The cells on
the first floor, as well as those on the two
upper tiers, had been emptied of their
occupants. The gathering was quiet and
decorous. Hats were removed and cigars
thrown away. There was none of the
crowding, pushing, swearing mob that
disgraced the execution Of the Italians
two years ago. The names of the jurors
were called and each rose to respond.
Then there was quiet; deep awful quiet.
1t was as though every man had ceased
breathing; as If their hearts had stood
still; as if the blood was congealing in
the veins of the anxious spectators.
Suddenly the face of Deputy Gleason
was seen at the entrance of the corridor
leading to the scaffold. His face was white
and he was trembling in every limb. He
raised his hand. The moment had ar
rived. The shufiing of feet was heard
in the corridor. Sheriff Matson appeared,
his back to the gathering, he was facing
the procession.
The men walked; Spies with Shelf MAJ
son and Jailer Folz; Fischer next, Engel
next and Parsons last. Spies comes into
view, broad-shouldered bailif is on his
right, next comes Fischer, then Engel.
All three step from the second tier of
cells to the scaffold, the spectators draw a
long breath. parsons is saved" is the
word that goes around, but it is not to
A LOTT
The four men were placed upon the trap.
All are ghostly pale. There is a moment
of death-like stiffness. Then clear and
distinct comes the voice of Spies. His
form Strengthens up; the muslin seems
to move in harmony with his lips. "Our
silence is more powerful than speech"
That is all, but there is ring to it that
echoes far away down the corridor.
Silence sgain for second.
Then in round, full voice a shout,
"Hurrah for anarchy" comes from
Engel.
Another pause, broken this time by
the voice of Fischer: ''This is the happi-
est moment of my life" He has had his
say.
Then the clear, we'll modulated voice of
Parsons broke the oppressive stiffness.
There is not that enthusiastic ling in it
which marked the Htterances of the 9th
ers. 1t is not the voice of judge deliv
ering decision. A scarcely defnable
pause between each word: "Sball l be al
lowed to speak. Oh! men ane women of
dear American" The sheriff shifts his
position little; he is several feet away
from the speaker, but the speaker must
have seen the movement through the
folds of the cap. There is rising infec
iv,
ing as of demand. ''Let me speak, Sher-
iff Matson," is what he says. 'Let the
voice of the people be heard"-down
went the drop. The last words OF Par
sons had died upon his lips. Four bodies
swung in empty air and the Haymarket
massacre was avenged.
Parsons Dies Instantly-The Others Strangle
Spies Struggles Convulsively.
CHICAGO, Nov. 1.-THE drop fell at
1866. From the first step of Spies
upon the scaffoid, until the cutting of the
rope, precisely six minutes and three
seconds had elapsed. For a moment after
the drop had fallen not a soul stirred. A
low murmur, like a pent-up sigh of re-
lief, went through the corridor. Then as
if moved by one common impulse, every
man rose to his feet and every eye was
riyeted upon the body of Spies. The
arch anarchist was dying hard. His legs
and arms moved convulsive!y, with ex-
traerdinary rapidity. 1t was as though
he were alive and conscious, struggling
to free himself from the cords that bound
him. His whole frame was agitated by
Q ivering tremor. Low groans of hor-
ror came from many lips and the express
sion she's dying hard" was heard on all
oil
minute, an hour it seemed to be, and then
the struggles grew fainter and fainter,
until they finally ceased. The bodies of
Engel and Fischer were motionless for a
moment after the drop, save for the
swinging to and fro. Then Fischer's
legs drew up and down and there was
convulsive movement in his arms. Eugel's
struggles were brief. Parsons alone died
es though his heart had been pierced by
bullet. He came down like log.
There was not a twitch. Not a single
contraction of the muscles. His neck
was broken instantly. All three of the
others evidently slowly strangled to
death.
The Bodies Cut Down-Lingg and Engel's to be
Taken to their old Homes.
CHICAGO, Nov. 1.-THE bodies were
lowered at II: %, after having been hang
ing thirty minutes. The coffins-plain
ones-painted dark brown, with silver
plated screws-were placed under the
bodies across short wooden horses. Spies
body was the first to be taken down and
lowered into the coffin. The white cap
covering his head was drawn up some
little distance, exposing his neck with the
rope frightened around the skin. It was
with great difficulty that the moose was
loosened by a deputy. After much
Juggling the knot was slipped and the
white cap was taken off. Spies face was
covered with greasy perspiration and
his mouth was open, showing his teeth
somewhat discolored. The face was not
oiscolored, and the moose left no mark on